Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery
Chapter 46: Zhang Shuniang

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Zhang Shuniang

"Hehe, I thought I was late!" Zhang Yan said with a smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes,

The so-called promotion and wealth come at the expense of one’s peers.

Towards one’s peers, there’s nothing but naked hatred.

Although he had been persuaded by the talk and Spirit Stones during the day and had agreed to this matter, he had no intention of showing Chen Li a friendly face.

He snorted inwardly and couldn’t be bothered to exchange pleasantries, so he stepped forward to knock on the door.

"Shu, open the door."

With a creak, the door opened.

"Dad, why are you back so late? This uncle has been waiting for a long time," Zhang Shuniang said softly, stealing a glance at Chen Li who stood behind her father.

Uncle!

Alas!

The smile on Chen Li’s face suddenly became somewhat awkward.

"I ran into a friend on the way and couldn’t help but chat a little longer. Don’t worry about what I’m doing, go back to your room," Zhang Yan said with a laugh.

"Oh!" Zhang Shuniang obediently responded and walked away with light footsteps.

Chen Li looked around the room as he entered. The interior was very clean, the furnishings were assorted but orderly, and the floor was not made of the common black mud but was paved with smooth stone slabs.

Of course, none of these could reflect the wealth of a cultivator.

However, a Talisman Maker capable of creating ’Featherweight Talismans,’ ’Arrow-Evasion Talismans,’ ’Evil-Repelling Talismans,’ and able to clothe his daughter in a robe, obviously led a rather comfortable life.

"Since you’ve paid to learn, let’s not waste any time. I wouldn’t want you to accuse me of holding back secrets. Come, to my talisman-making room," Zhang Yan interrupted Chen Li’s scanning of the room and headed toward the talisman-making area.

As soon as the door to the talisman-making room opened, a strong and pungent stench hit them, nearly fumigating Chen Li out of the area.

All around, there were animal skins.

Untreated skins still with traces of blood,

Skins soaking in various medicinal jars,

Skins hung up like clothes to dry out on ropes,

They almost left no place to set foot.

"One could shorten their life just by staying here too long," Chen Li thought to himself.

Fortunately, he did not make talisman papers.

Zhang Yan, seemingly oblivious to the strange smell, laughed awkwardly: "My talisman-making room is rather crude. I hope Fellow Daoist will not laugh."

"Not at all, my talisman-making room isn’t even as good as Fellow Daoist’s!" Chen Li said modestly, then a thought struck him: "I wonder how good the quality of the talisman papers you make is, and if you sell them?"

"Why don’t you make your own talisman papers?" Zhang Yan asked with a look of surprise.

"I can’t be bothered with the processing," Chen Li replied.

Zhang Yan finally showed a genuine smile upon hearing this response, and his attitude warmed considerably:

"Why wouldn’t I sell them? The talisman papers sold in the shops might be passable, but they always cut corners. The quality can’t compare to the genuine materials we Talisman Makers use. Our talisman papers ensure a high success rate in talisman drawing."

This deal, if struck, might not bring in much profit, but as a steady stream of income, it was an additional resource.

The key point was that this money was earned with no extra effort; to him, making one or two skins was the same amount of work.

"This is not just my own praise, come, let me show you." Saying this, Zhang Yan picked up an uncut talisman paper and brought it close to Chen Li: "Genuine Demon Beast skin, take a look at the thickness of this skin, it’s only slightly thicker than a piece of paper... go ahead, feel it..."

Unable to resist the other’s enthusiasm, Chen Li reached out and touched it a few times.

"How does my skin feel?"

"Smooth, soft, supple, not bad, truly good quality!"

Chen Li praised. Indeed, the quality of the skin was better than what was sold in the shops.

Just, why does this conversation feel a bit odd?

"You definitely know your stuff, what an eye for quality! This has been processed through multiple complex steps, and some are my own exclusive secret techniques. High-quality talisman paper should have a tender and smooth touch, like baby skin... Now, take a look at this resilience!"

As Zhang Yan spoke, he violently tore at the talisman paper, his face flushing red and his breath growing heavy: "Ah... isn’t it... isn’t it much better than the ones from the stores?"

"Your talisman paper is indeed not bad, what about the price?" Chen Li asked. "I’m looking for a bargain, it won’t do if it’s more expensive than the stores!"

With a bit of helplessness in his heart, selling talisman paper should be plain and simple, not this earnest.

"Don’t... don’t worry, I won’t overcharge you. The stores sell talisman paper for ten per low-grade Spirit Stone, I’ll give you fifteen. Any lower and I won’t make a profit," said Zhang Yan, still catching his breath.

Seeing how hard the other party was working to make the sale, Chen Li didn’t have the heart to haggle anymore.

Plus, the price was indeed fair.

"Then give me one hundred and fifty sheets for now," said Chen Li.

"Sure, but I don’t have that many right now... three days... probably not enough." Zhang Yan calculated with his fingers: "Let’s say five days, I’ll personally deliver them to you in five days."

The process of making talisman paper is complicated, with some steps taking a very long time. Just like drying, which cannot be hastened by exposure to the sun or by fire—it has to air dry slowly, and one simply cannot rush it.

"No problem, I’m not in a hurry," Chen Li said with a smile.

He had just bought thirty sheets of talisman paper at the market yesterday, so he had more than enough for the time being.

"Fellow Daoist Chen really is generous." Zhang Yan had just made a deal and was in a great mood. Smiling, he said, "This girl, the guest has been here for so long, why haven’t you served tea yet? I’ll go urge her!"

Before Chen Li could refuse,

Zhang Yan opened the door: "Shu, bring two cups of tea."

"Oh! Father, should I use regular tea leaves or Spiritual Tea?" came Zhang Shuniang’s sweet voice from the outside.

"Of course, Spiritual Tea!" Zhang Yan turned back to Chen Li with an awkward smile: "Heh heh... this girl has been spoiled by me ever since she lost her mother when she was little!"

Chen Li responded with an awkward yet polite smile.

Now would be the time for someone with high emotional intelligence to say something like: "Your daughter is so pure and lively," or something.

If it were someone with low emotional intelligence: "It’s quite normal for your daughter to be a bit naive at this age; it’s no big deal."

But thinking about having to say such things with the voice of an elder, he lost all enthusiasm.

Chen Li’s awkward smile only made Zhang Yan’s embarrassment grow.

The two exchanged awkward laughs.

"Why do I suddenly feel a bit warm, heh heh!" Zhang Yan said, grasping for conversation, completely forgetting that winter had already arrived.

"Yes, indeed!"

"It’s getting late, shall we start drawing talismans now?"

"That’s exactly what I had in mind!"

The two had just made it to the talisman-making table.

Zhang Shuniang finally came in carrying the tea.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Zhang!" Chen Li accepted the tea, speaking politely.

Zhang Shuniang blushed at his words, sneaking a peek at him. She had never been called ’Fellow Daoist’ by anyone before.

"Dad, your tea!"

"Mmm!" Zhang Yan replied discontentedly with a serious fatherly expression: "Go back to your room, I’m going to make talismans."

"Oh!" Zhang Shuniang quickly left.

Chen Li had no interest in Spiritual Tea; there wasn’t much Spiritual Power in it for him to taste anything special, so after taking a sip, he simply set it aside.

Seeing this, Zhang Yan also didn’t delay and set down his cup: "Let’s start drawing the talismans now. I’ll explain as I draw, and you can ask about anything you don’t understand, okay?"

"No problem!" Chen Li said.